New HIPAA Regulations Fact Sheet Available

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released an overview of the basics of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, and explains what covered entities (including skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in some cases) must keep in mind as they work toward compliance. Specifically, the fact sheet explains that HIPAA plays “a vital role in protecting the privacy and security of patient information” and provides a “basic overview of the rules, the information protected by the rules, and who must comply with the rules.”